One of the biggest threats to your home on the Gulf Coast of Florida is termites - whether you know it or not.
There are more than 2000 species of termites on planet earth. Approximately 50 of those are in the United States, mostly imported from other countries and continents. A record twenty of those show up in Florida.
Termites cause an average of $5-billion in damages to homes every year. Not all of those homes are in Florida, but we do have a significant percentage of those destructive costs. Part of it is the environment – our subtropical weather is perfect for many pesky insects and definitely ideal for both Formosan and Asian subterranean termites. Drywood termites are also prevalent here, although they don’t cause quite as much damage.
Subterranean Nightmares
Formosan, or super termites, are the most destructive and aggressive termites on the planet – and they’re dominant here in Florida. Orkin’s annual list of most termite infested cities ranked Tampa Bay as #3 and Fort Myers as #27. Miami topped the list, with West Palm Beach and Jacksonville also in the top 40.
Formosan termites originated in China and measure about 5/16th of an inch. They are sometimes mistaken for flying ants. Alates, or swarmers, tend to be pale to a darker brownish yellow, and their wings are covered in small hairs. Their soldiers have rounded heads, while the workers’ heads are more rectangular.
Asian subterranean termites first appeared in Florida around 1996, but they are rapidly spreading. In fact, a recent report estimates Asian termites will appear in all 24 southern-most counties in the Sunshine State by 2040. We’ve got a head start – the gulf coast already has more sightings of Asian termites than other parts of Florida.
The soldier class of Asian subterranean termites look very similar to Formosan soldier termites. The swarming alates are smaller, with dark brown bodies, except for the two lighter antenna spots just below their eyes.
As if that wasn’t scary enough on its own, in 2021, scientists believed they had found evidence of hybrid termites. That’s now been officially confirmed – Asian and Formosan termites are breeding to form even more aggressive, destructive hybrid supreme termites.
As our fearless leader Dean Burnside likes to say, every home in Florida has a termite problem – or soon will.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites don’t go underground. They nest in attics, furniture, and structural beams. You may see their frass (poop) that looks like sawdust or notice that wood or walls sound hollow when you tap on them. They tend to be about a ½ inch long and are reddish-brown, with equal-length wings.
Other than the frass they leave behind or discarded wings, it can be hard to detect drywood termites in your home until it is too late. Because they grow and reproduce slowly, you may not even see swarmers until 3 or 4 years into an infestation. If you suspect a problem, do not wait. Call a professional.
Some pest control management companies focus only on termites. We at Good News Pest Solutions are more all-inclusive in our pest prevention capabilities, but we definitely have the upper edge when it comes to termite control and prevention.
Term Assure 365
We’ve been protecting homes against termites for more than 35 years. In fact, while we specialize in the most comprehensive termite protection package you can find, recently we upgraded the protection we offer.
Our newest, most comprehensive termite protection is Term Assure 365+. It starts with a full home inspection, where we locate and seal all potential entry points into your home. Then we install always-active bait stations, so there’s no chance termites get anywhere near your home. And the plan comes with a $1 million subterranean termite damage repair warranty.
Term Assure 365+ also includes our most popular service: Green Perimeter Plus, that protects your home from ants, spiders, roaches and more. So you get the best pest protection across the board for a very reasonable price. Building a house? We also do pre-construction treatment for termites. For all the details on these or any of our services, please give us a call!